Fastener module



Nov. 3, 1970 s. AUSNIT FASTENER MODULE Filed June 25, 1968 I N VEN TOR.

Jayezz fiwzzz'z MW AT TOR N15 YS United States Patent 3,537,153 FASTENER MODULE Steven Ausnit, 124 E. 61st St., New York, N.Y. 10021 Filed June 25, 1968, Ser. No. 739,799 Int. Cl. A4411 19/02, 21/00 US. Cl. 24-201 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Modules for connecting thin plastic film or strips such that the sheets being joined may extend in the same or opposite directions. Plastic fastener modules of various shapes are formed with openings for receiving mating locking members that are attached to sheets to be joined. Various modifications allow two or more sheets to be joined together which extend in various directions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates in general to fastening means, and in particular to a plurality of modules for attaching one or more flexible plastic sheets or strips together to form a unitary unit.

Description of the prior art Prior fastener structures for plastic sheets have provided male and female portions adjacent the edges of the sheets, so that they mate together.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides fastener modules attaching two or more sheets of thin plastic film together. In some embodiments, the sheets extend in opposite directions and in other embodiments, the sheets extend in the same direction. Other embodiments provide fastening modules for two or more sheets extending in the same direction to two or more sheets extending in the opposite direction. Some embodiments provide for attaching a single sheet extending in one direction to two or more sheets extending in the opposite direction.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a fastening module according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modification of the fastening module of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further modification of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of an attaching module according to this invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an attaching structure according to this invention, and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a further modification of the attaching module of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a fastener module 10 which is of a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape which may be used to join a pair of sheets of plastic material 11 and 12 which extend in opposite directions from the fastener module 10. The module 10 and the sheets 11 and 12 may be formed of a suitable plastic film such as polyethylene, poly-vinyl chloride or other suitable plastic material that is adapted for forming sheets and attaching modules.

The fastening module 10 is formed with a pair of recesses 13 and 14 into which male locking members 16 and 17 respectively may be received. The male member 16 is attached to the sheet 11 and extends from the side 18 of module 10 into the opening 13 and locks to the module by engaging the shoulders 19 and 21 of the opening 13.

The male portion 17 is attached to the sheet 12 and extends from the side 22 of the module 10 into the opening 14 and locks behind the shoulders 23 and 24 of the module 10. Since the module 10 and the male portions 16 and 17 of sheets 11 and 12 are made of a suitable plastic, they are capable of flexing so that the male members 16 and 17 may be inserted into openings 13 and 14 by deforming during insertion. The material will assume the position shown in FIG. 1 after the members 16 and 17 have been inserted into the openings 13 and 14 respectively.

It is seen that the module 10 allows the sheets 11 and 12 to be attached together. Although not shown, it is to be realized that a slide attaching means may be utilized to insert the male members 16 and 17 in the openings 13 and 14 of the module 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates a modification of the invention, and discloses a fastener module 26 which is generally rectangular in cross section and which is formed with openings 27 and 28 for receiving the male members 16 and 17 of the sheets 11 and 12. In this embodiment, the sheets 11 and 12 are spaced side by side and extend in the same direction from the module 26. Shoulders 29 and 30 are formed in the module 26 adjacent the opening 27 and lock on the enlarged portion 16 of the sheet 11. Likewise, shoulders 31 and 32 are formed adjacent the opening 28 and lock on the male portion 17 of sheet 12.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modification of the invention, wherein sheets 33, 34, 35 and 36 are formed with enlarged portions 37, 38, 39 and 40 that are received in openings 41, 42, 43 and 44 of a fastener module 46.

The structure of FIG. 3 allows four sheets of plastic to be joined together with two sheets extending parallel to each other in opposite directions.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of the invention, and comprises an attaching module 47 which is formed with a flange 48 that may be attached to a suitable holding member. The module 47 is formed with generally hook shaped extensions 49, 50, 51 and 52. A sheet 53 is attached to a mating portion 54 that has hooks 55 and 56 that may be impressed into mating engagement with the hooks 49 and 50 of the member 47. A second sheet 57 is attached to a mating portion 58 that has hook portions 59 and 60 that may be detachably connected to the hook shaped portions 51 and 52 of the module 47. The flange 48 may be used to attach the sheets 53 and 57 to a support member, for example.

FIG. 5 lilustrates a modification of the invention wherein four sheets are joined by a connecting module 61 which is formed with hook-shaped portions 62 through 69. A first sheet 70 is attached to an attaching portion 71 that has books 72 and 73 that engage the hooks 62 and 63 of the module 61. A second sheet 74 is attached to an engaging portion 74A and is formed with hooks 75 and 76 which engage the hooks 66 and 67 of the module 61. A third sheet 77 is attached to an engaging portion 78 that is formed with hooks 79 and 80 that may be matingly received with the books 64 and 65 as shown. A fourth sheet 81 is attached to an attaching portion 82 that has hooks 83 and 84 that mate with the hooks 68 and 69 of the module 61.

Thus, the modification shown in FIG. 5 allows four sheets 70, 74, 77 and 81 to be attached together with the two sheets 70 and 74 extending in a first direction and the sheets 77 and 81 extending in a second direction.

FIG. 6 illustrates an attaching member 82 that has a flange 83 that might be formed with suitable openings 84 through which'supporting prongs 86 may be received. An attaching portion 87 of the member 82 is formed with hooks 88 and 89 and 90- and 91. A supporting sheet which can be formed into a supporting tube 92, that might carry a plurality of wires 93, is attached to supporting structures 94 and 99 that are formed with hook portions 97, 98, 95 and 96 which are matingly received with the hook portions 88, 89, 90 and 91, respectively.

The structure of FIG. 6 allows the tubular support 94 to be easily and simply attached to the supporting prongs 86, for example.

The wires 93 are placed on the sheet 92 before the supportingstructures 94 and 99 are mated with member 82 and then the sheet 92 is attached to member 82 by mating the hooks 97, 98, 95 and 96 with hook portions 88, 89, 90 and 91.

The present invention makes it possible to simply attach two or more sheets together which extend in opposite directions such as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and or which extend in the same direction as shown in FIGS. '2, 3, 4 and 5.

The attaching member of FIG. 6 allows a number of wires to be supported and held in a compact and efficient manner.

Although I have herein set forth my invention with respect to certain specific principles and details thereof, it will be understood that these may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the hereunto appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Means for fastening a plurality of flexible sheets together comprising: a fastening module consisting of an elongated onepiece member of uniform plastic formed with a plurality of openings, each of said sheets formed with male'attaching means receivable in the openings of said uniform plastic member, and wherein'at least two of the openings formed in saiduniform plastic member are formed in a first side of said plastic member and at least two of said openings are formed in a second side of said plastic member.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sides of said plastic member are opposite sides of said member.

3. Means for fastening a plurality of flexible sheets together comprising: a fastening module consisting of an elongated onepiece member of uniform plastic formed with a plurality of openings, each of said sheets formed with male attaching means receivable in the openings of said uniform plastic member, and wherein said openings in said uniform plastic member are formed on opposite sides and the male attaching means of said sheets extend transversely of said sheets, and said sheets are attached to said plastic member so that they are side by side.

4. Means for fastening a plurality of flexible sheets together comprising: a fastening module consisting of an elongated onepiece member of uniform plastic formed with a plurality of openings, each of said sheets formed with male attaching means receivable in the openings of said uniform plastic member, and wherein said openings in said uniform plastic member are formed on opposite sides and the male attaching means of said sheets extend transversely of said sheets, said sheets are attached to said plastic member so that they are side by side, and a flange is attached to said plastic member.

- 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said flange is formed with at least one opening.

6. Means for fastening a plurality of flexible sheets together comprising: a fastening module consisting of an elongated onepiece member of uniform plastic formed with a plurality of openings, each of said sheets formed with male attaching means receivable in the openings of said uniform plastic member, and wherein said openings in said uniform plastic member are formed on opposite sides and the male attaching means of said sheets extend transversely of said sheets, said sheets are attached to said plastic member so that they are side by side, a flange is attached to said plastic member, and the edges of said sheets away from the plastic member are attached to form a tubular structure.

7. Means for fastening a plurality of flexible sheets together comprising: a fastening module consisting of an elongated one-piece member of uniform plastic formed with a plurality of openings, each of said sheets formed References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,103,154 10/1963 Cound. 3,191,727 6/1965 Schmeltz etal 24-201X 3,038,225 6/1962 Ausnit 24-201 3,173,154 3/1965 Ausnit 24 2o1 STEPHEN J. NO'VOSAD, Primary Examiner US. 01. X.R. 

